MHS AP U. S. History1 Lesson 2 The Thesis Sentence

MHS AP U. S. History2 The thesis sentence is the most important sentence in any essay. It must be clear, properly structured, and in the correct place.

MHS AP U. S. History3 A thesis sentence is... A single A single Declaratory sentence Declaratory sentence That answers the prompt That answers the prompt With a clearly and simply stated opinion With a clearly and simply stated opinion That does not restate the prompt. That does not restate the prompt.

MHS AP U. S. History4 Tip #1 After reading the whole prompt, marking the verbs and conjunctions, and sketching out how you intend to proceed... After reading the whole prompt, marking the verbs and conjunctions, and sketching out how you intend to proceed... Answer the prompt in a simple sentence. Answer the prompt in a simple sentence. For instance, consider this DBQ prompt: For instance, consider this DBQ prompt: –How successful was organized labor in improving the position of workers in the period from 1875 to 1900? Analyze the factors that contributed to the level of success achieved.

MHS AP U. S. History5 Tip #1 (continued) What do you think about this prompt? What do you think about this prompt? –Were labor unions successful in improving working conditions and the power of working people during this time? –At the end of the period had the lives of working people substantially improved due to organized labor? –What factors caused or stopped improvement from happening? YOUR OPINION IS ESSENTIAL! YOUR OPINION IS ESSENTIAL! And your opinion must be clear. And your opinion must be clear. So... So...

MHS AP U. S. History6 Tip #1 (continued) Lets say that you think this time period was not a period of labor success. Lets say that you think this time period was not a period of labor success. Write a simple statement that answers the prompt with your opinion. Like this... Write a simple statement that answers the prompt with your opinion. Like this... –Labor unions failed to improve the condition of working people at the end of the 19 th century. Or... Or... –Government antagonism to labor unions kept them from effectively helping working people during this period.

MHS AP U. S. History7 Tip #1 (continued) Its extremely important to get your thinking clearly into a simple answer to the prompt. Its extremely important to get your thinking clearly into a simple answer to the prompt. Do NOT restate the wording of the prompt. Do NOT restate the wording of the prompt. –Rather than the time period 1875 to 1900, write the last decades of the 19 th century or the three decades following the Civil War. –Rather than organized labor, refer to labor unions.

MHS AP U. S. History8 Choosing a thesis structure The key to writing a clear, strong thesis is to answer or address the prompt with your opinion clearly in front of you. The key to writing a clear, strong thesis is to answer or address the prompt with your opinion clearly in front of you. They you need to decide what shape your thesis sentence should take. They you need to decide what shape your thesis sentence should take. Your thesis will provide the readers first and guiding impression. Give great care with this sentence! Your thesis will provide the readers first and guiding impression. Give great care with this sentence!

MHS AP U. S. History9 Choosing a thesis structure (continued) Two excellent ways of writing thesis sentences are 1.A concept thesis. 2.An organizational thesis. Sometimes this last is known as an organizational statement.

MHS AP U. S. History10 Concept Thesis Now that you have your opinion, you can write a sentence that is both complex and specific. Now that you have your opinion, you can write a sentence that is both complex and specific. One way of doing this is to write a sentence that begins with the word although. One way of doing this is to write a sentence that begins with the word although. This may seem odd, but recent AP grading rubrics award high scores only to essays that address the complexity of the question. This may seem odd, but recent AP grading rubrics award high scores only to essays that address the complexity of the question.

MHS AP U. S. History11 Concept Thesis (continued) A thesis written like this may look like this: A thesis written like this may look like this: –Although this was a period of intense labor pressure, unions failed to make the lives and status of workers better. Or... Or... –Although this period saw increased labor involvement, state and federal government antagonism kept unions from being effective.

MHS AP U. S. History12 Concept Thesis (continued) This kind of thesis sentence sets you up from the very beginning to acknowledge complexity in the essay prompt. This kind of thesis sentence sets you up from the very beginning to acknowledge complexity in the essay prompt. Your opinion, your answer to the prompt, goes in the second half of this thesis, after the comma. This is the point you are going to make, the destination at which you want the reader to arrive. Your opinion, your answer to the prompt, goes in the second half of this thesis, after the comma. This is the point you are going to make, the destination at which you want the reader to arrive.

MHS AP U. S. History13 Organizational Thesis Another way of writing a clear thesis is to use an organizational statement. Another way of writing a clear thesis is to use an organizational statement. This is a sentence that specifically mentions what will be the topics of the following body paragraphs. This is a sentence that specifically mentions what will be the topics of the following body paragraphs. Look at the prompt one more time: Look at the prompt one more time: –How successful was organized labor in improving the position of workers in the period from 1875 to 1900? Analyze the factors that contributed to the level of success achieved.

MHS AP U. S. History14 Organizational Thesis (continued) Some essay prompts lend themselves to organizational thesis sentences. For instance, consider the following prompt: –Analyze the factors that contributed to the success or failure of organized labors efforts to improve the position of workers during the period 1875 to An organizational thesis for this prompt could specify which three things were going to be discussed without re-stating the prompt. An organizational thesis for this prompt could specify which three things were going to be discussed without re-stating the prompt.

MHS AP U. S. History15 Organizational Thesis (continued) The following sentences specifically mention what will be the topic sentences of the next paragraphs. – –Labor unions failed because they were confused in their goals and were aggressively opposed by both state and federal governments. – –Organized labor unions were unsuccessful because they were not unified in their demands and were associated with radical European political groups.

MHS AP U. S. History16 Whether you choose a concept thesis or an organizational thesis, this sentence will shape the first impression you make on the reader. Think carefully about your task and make sure your thesis addresses the prompt.

MHS AP U. S. History17 Tip #3 Having written your thesis sentence, you are ready to put it into your essay introduction. For most AP U. S. History essays, an introduction paragraph may only be two or three sentences in length. Having written your thesis sentence, you are ready to put it into your essay introduction. For most AP U. S. History essays, an introduction paragraph may only be two or three sentences in length. The thesis sentence should be the last sentence in your introduction paragraph. The thesis sentence should be the last sentence in your introduction paragraph. Take a step back from your thesis and write a general sentence that introduces the topic. Take a step back from your thesis and write a general sentence that introduces the topic.

MHS AP U. S. History18 Tip #3 (continued) The general topic of this prompt is the effectiveness of organized labor. The general topic of this prompt is the effectiveness of organized labor. Using a concept thesis sentence, the introduction might look like this: Using a concept thesis sentence, the introduction might look like this: –American workers have organized to improve pay and working conditions since the earliest period of industrialization. By the end of the 19 th century these unions made a major effort to make the lives of working people better. Although this was a period of intense labor pressure, unions failed to make the lives and status of workers better.

MHS AP U. S. History19 Tip #3 (continued) Using an organizational thesis sentences, the introduction might look like this: Using an organizational thesis sentences, the introduction might look like this: –American workers have organized to improve pay and working conditions since the earliest period of industrialization. By the end of the 19 th century these unions made a major effort to make the lives of working people better. They failed, however, since they were unclear in their demands and both state and federal governments used force to stop them.

MHS AP U. S. History20 Tip #3 (continued) AP essay rubrics award high scores to essays that have a clear, well-developed thesis that is focused on the prompt and guides the essay throughout. AP essay rubrics award high scores to essays that have a clear, well-developed thesis that is focused on the prompt and guides the essay throughout. By clearly answering the prompt with your opinion, writing a strong thesis sentence, and putting it at the beginning of your essay, you do as much in two or three sentences as you can do to get yourself off to a great start. By clearly answering the prompt with your opinion, writing a strong thesis sentence, and putting it at the beginning of your essay, you do as much in two or three sentences as you can do to get yourself off to a great start.

MHS AP U. S. History21 Lesson 2 Summary A thesis is a single declarative sentence that answers the prompt with your opinion. A thesis is a single declarative sentence that answers the prompt with your opinion. The thesis should address the complexity in the prompt. The thesis should address the complexity in the prompt. The thesis should be carefully crafted to fit the demands of the specific essay prompt. The thesis should be carefully crafted to fit the demands of the specific essay prompt. The thesis should be the last sentence in the introduction paragraph. The thesis should be the last sentence in the introduction paragraph.